Holy Week is upon us, with Easter Sunday coming soon, and that means that the majority of Peruvians - Christians and non-Christians alike - will be spending this weekend ... at the beach.
Thursday-Sunday of Holy Week is a 4-day holiday weekend here in Peru. Many stores, businesses, and offices are closed, as are all government offices and schools. Easter weekend also marks the end of the summer beach season here in Peru. It's kind of like Labor Day weekend in September in the USA. In fact, Christmas and Easter are the bookends to the summer season here in Peru, kind of like Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend in the USA.
There are millions of people in the USA and in other countries who only go to church on Christmas and Easter. Here in Peru, however, it's just the opposite: there are many people, including even pastors and church leaders, who go away on vacation at Christmas and Easter!
So as we prepare for 4 Easter services this weekend at FRC-Lima, we are a little bit like the salmon that swims upstream. We are going against the cultural tide here in Peru. While some other churches drop services on Easter weekend, we are adding them. It's one of the rare occasions where we go against the prevailing Peruvian culture, but we serve a risen Savior, and we have a feeling that a lot of other Peruvians and expats are going to want to celebrate with us this weekend as well.
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